Question

Drag and drop the correct nuclear particles to balance the following nuclear reactions. Answer choices may be used more than once.

(Note: n = neutron; p = proton; a = alpha particle; B- = beta-minus particle)

U-238 + _______ -> U-239

U-239 -> Np-239 + _______

Np-239 » Pu-239 + _______ 

Answer 1

\(U-238+n \cdots \cdots \cup-239\)

\(U-239 \cdots+N p-239+\beta\)

\(\mathrm{Np}-239 \ldots \mathrm{Pu}-239+\beta\)

Explanation

Reaction1: In this reaction mass is changed 1unit, so this is not \(\mathrm{a} \beta\) particle reaction because in \(\beta\) particle nuclear reaction a neutron is converted to proton \(\left(\beta_{-}\right.\) reaction) or a proton is converted to neutron \(\beta+\) reaction), so mass would not be changed. Mass is increased but atomic number is not changed i.e number of proton is not changed ,so this reaction is neutron addition reaction.

Reaction \(2: \beta\) reaction because mass is not changed. Atomic number is increased one unit i.e one neutron is converted to proton, so this reaction is \(\beta\) - reaction

Reaction \(3: \beta\) reaction because mass is not changed. Atomic number is increased one unit i.e one neutron is converted to proton, so this reaction is \(\beta\) - reaction.